All who have sinned. The term tends to be used in particular of those regarded as outside God's covenant of grace, whose sins are therefore not forgiven.
The universality of sinful behaviour
Only Jesus Christ is sinless
1 Peter 2:22 See also Isaiah 53:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15, Hebrews 7:26; 1 John 3:5
“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.”
Everyone else has sinned
Galatians 3:22 See also 1 Kings 8:46; Romans 3:9–19, Romans 3:23, Romans 5:12, Romans 5:19
But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.
God's mercy towards sinners
God graciously extends mercy to sinners within the covenant
Psalm 25:8–10 See also 1 Kings 8:30; Psalm 86:5, Psalm 130:8; Daniel 9:9; 1 John 1:9
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way. All the LORD’s ways are loving and faithful to those who keep His covenant and His decrees.
Jesus Christ died for sinners
Romans 5:8; 1 Timothy 1:15 See also Romans 8:3
But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.
Sinners as those whose behaviour excludes them from God's covenant
Prostitutes, tax collectors, idolatrous Gentiles and the ungodly
Luke 15:1 See also Deuteronomy 23:17–18; 1 Samuel 15:18; Luke 3:12, Luke 7:37–38; Galatians 2:15; 1 Thessalonians 4:5; 1 Peter 4:18; Proverbs 11:31; 2 Peter 2:5–6
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus.
Such sinners shunned by the Jews
Luke 7:39 See also Psalm 1:1; Proverbs 1:10–16
When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him — for she is a sinner!”
The judgment of sinners
Prayers seeking their judgment
Psalm 104:35 See also Psalm 109:6–20, Psalm 137:7–9, Psalm 139:19
May sinners vanish from the earth and the wicked be no more. Bless the LORD, O my soul. Hallelujah!
They are cut off from God
Isaiah 59:2 See also Psalm 66:18; Proverbs 15:29; Isaiah 1:15; John 9:31; 1 Corinthians 6:9–10
But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.
They receive their just reward
Proverbs 13:21–22 See also Psalm 1:5, Psalm 34:16, Psalm 37:38; Ecclesiastes 2:26
Disaster pursues sinners, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous. A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous.
Prophecies of their judgment
Isaiah 1:28 See also Isaiah 13:9, Isaiah 33:14; Jeremiah 4:18; Amos 9:10
But rebels and sinners will together be shattered, and those who forsake the LORD will perish.
Their final judgment
2 Peter 3:7 See also Isaiah 66:24; 2 Thessalonians 1:8–9; 2 Peter 2:9; Jude 1:15
And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
Jesus Christ's attitude towards sinners
Jesus Christ's association with sinners
Matthew 9:9–13 parallels Mark 2:14–17, Luke 5:27–32 Jesus Christ's attitude and behaviour were radically different from that of his contemporaries. See also Luke 15:1–10, Luke 19:5–10; Romans 5:8; 1 Timothy 1:15–16
As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him. Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Jesus Christ extended God's forgiveness to sinners and welcomed them into his kingdom
Matthew 21:31–32 See also Matthew 9:2–7 parallels Mark 2:3–12, Luke 5:18–25; Luke 7:40–50, Luke 15:11–32, Luke 18:9–14, Luke 19:9; John 8:3–11
Which of the two did the will of his father?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
Jesus Christ's behaviour led to accusations that he himself was a sinner
Jesus Christ's refusal to accept sinful behaviour
John 8:10–11 See also Matthew 4:17, Matthew 18:8–9 parallel Mark 9:43–48; John 5:14
Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.”
Jesus Christ's use of the example of sinners to teach his disciples
Luke 6:32–34 parallel Matthew 5:46–47 See also Luke 16:1–9
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.
Sinners in the church
Those who fall into sin should be restored
James 5:19–20 See also Psalm 51:13; Matthew 18:12–15; Galatians 6:1
My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
Unrepentant sinners should be expelled
Matthew 18:15–17 See also 1 Corinthians 5:9–11
If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.